Pathos

Kennedy made people have all the feels. He's tugging at the heartstrings of the audience throughout his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. The guy is laying on the pathos with a trowel.

His is not a logical or reasoned argument. In fact it's illogical. Dude's not a Berliner. Nor are most of the people of the world. But in an emotional appeal, he says that he's from Berlin and that everyone is from Berlin. It sounds good, it makes the crowds cheer, and it wins people over to his side. It's a politician's speech through and through.

There are no stats in the speech, and he doesn't give any details or facts about what has happened in Berlin. You have to know the history of the city to understand what he's talking about. The speech lacks any informed opinions or quotes except to paraphrase one other politician's emotional sentiment, "it is, as your Mayor has said, an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity…" (18). His tone is of disappointment with a world that has failed Berlin.

Kennedy also doesn't claim to be the one who's going to fix everything. The message is not to look to him for saving. The idea in the speech is that some day things will get better: "lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today, to the hopes of tomorrow, beyond the freedom merely of this city of Berlin, or your country of Germany, to the advance of freedom everywhere…" (22).

He's super vague on how or when this will happen, instead using only figurative language. But hey: it's one super-uplifting speech. Watch it and tell us that it doesn't give you chills.